Summer is almost here and it’s expected to be a busy travel season. Check out these tips to save money and stretch your dollar this summer. Let us know in the comments if you have any more tips!

#1 Avoid Buying Toiletries

Avoid buying travel-size toiletries, they’re generally more expensive than their larger counterparts. Instead take the toiletries you already have and squeeze them into smaller TSA-approved travel bottles. We like these from IKEA they follow the TSA rules of 3.4 ounces or smaller.  

#2 Get Unlocked

If you’re traveling abroad you’re going to want to check to make sure your carrier will allow you to use your phone at affordable rates, but if not you’re going to want to unlock your current phone or pick up a cheap unlocked phone for your trip. We’ve found plenty of cheap Android smartphones that will still allow you to get email, take great photos, and access all your apps. Our favorite is the Honor 5X at $160 (but you can find more here). It’s affordable and a great replacement phone.

#3 Weigh Your Luggage 

No one wants to spend upwards of $100 on fees at the airport. Pick up a luggage scale here, and weigh your luggage before your trip to avoid paying overweight bag fees.

#4 Eat Your Heart Out

If you’re a frequent flyer then you’re well aware of how expensive the food at the airport can be. Plan ahead by packing dry snacks like Kind barsQuaker Chewy bars, or nut snacks. If you have children, buy in bulk and transfer them into individual bags for cost-effectiveness. You can buy these snacks in bulk on Amazon.

#5 Fill it Up

$2, $3, or $4—whatever the cost, buying water at the airport quickly adds up. Come prepared with a bottle and take advantage of the water fountains at the airport. We’ve found some cool bottles like this one from HYDAWAY—it’s collapsible when empty.

#6 Shop Around for Lodging

Make sure to shop around for accommodations. We might be biased, but we recommend Hotelwatchdog. They analyze millions of details, including value, location, and prices to find you the best deals.

 #7 Pack the Small Things

You don’t want to over-pack your luggage, but try to bring some of the small things that you’ll need on the trip. Simple things like headphones, umbrellas, phone chargers, and charging cables may seem small but are expensive to purchase at the airport or touristy locations. Make sure to double-check that you have everything you’ll need before heading to the airport. See the necessities here.

#8 Airfare Alerts

And of course airfare alerts … We wouldn’t be Airfarewatchdog if we didn’t recommend this tip! Easily set up alerts on our site and we’ll notify you when we locate the best deals. We report on all airlines, even Southwest and Delta. Sign up here or learn more here.

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All products and services mentioned on Airfarewatchdog are independently selected by our team of expert travelers. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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Airfarewatchdog.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com